It's no secret that the older a person becomes, the slower metabolic processes take place in his body. With age, its activity decreases, it eats less food, as a result of which most people believe that the need for vitamins is also declining. This is actually a fallacy.
The need for vitamins is huge
Vitamins for the elderly are of paramount importance. People over sixty should consume them daily. However, in our country, unfortunately, not everyone follows this rule, thus saving on their health, which, of course, leads to an increase in mortality. Moreover, a certain part of people mistakenly believes that vitamins for an elderly person are nothing more than a whim, because their deficiency can be easily filled with standard foods. This point of view also does not hold water. Useful substances are needed by absolutely everyone, and especially by older people. Why?
Yes, first of all, because their intestinal “absorption” function is reduced, which means that food is absorbed worse. In addition, in people after sixty years, oxidation-reduction processes slow down, and the functioning of internal organs also deteriorates.
The increased intake of medications in the fight against chronic ailments leads to a gradual deficiency of vital macronutrients and vitamins.
You can’t do without them
As already emphasized, vitamins for an elderly person are not a whim, but an urgent need, they are needed as air. After all, it is they who are able to increase vital activity and slow down the aging process of the body.
First of all, water-soluble vitamins (groups B, C, P) are of value to older people. They must be present in the diet of a person of retirement age. What is their benefit? The fact is that they have an antisclerotic effect and help strengthen the walls of blood vessels. It is thanks to the normal functioning of the cardiovascular system that the likelihood that a person will live as long as possible increases.
Not sure what vitamins are for an older person? First of all, they are necessary for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases. This function is performed by useful substances belonging to group C. They normalize the elasticity and strength of blood vessels and normalize the level of cholesterol in the blood.
Food will not make up for 100% vitamin needs
Of course, there is a certain category of people who thinks that the best vitamins for the elderly are vegetables and fruits. Say, eat one apple a day, and many diseases will bypass you. However, this position can also be considered a delusion. Fruits and vegetables make up for the lack of only two vitamins: folic and ascorbic acids. If the assortment of fruits eaten is diverse, then you can also get rid of a deficiency of such a necessary component for health, as carotene. Remarkable is the fact that in 100 ml. apple juice contains only 2 mg of ascorbic acid. To fill the daily requirement of the body for this vitamin (60 mg), you will need to drink 15 glasses of juice daily!
If we talk about useful substances belonging to groups A, E, D, then vegetables will not be able to enrich the body with them - here you will need high-calorie foods: milk, eggs, meat, butter, cereals, bakery products.
Ascorbic acid - an indispensable component for strengthening blood vessels
Many people know that vitamins (except for groups A, E, D and partially B12) are not produced, but enter the body with food. Our brain is not able to store the above substances for the future, so we should regularly eat foods that are rich in them.
First of all, we are talking about vitamin C. It is this antioxidant that is especially needed by people aged. The lack of components such as ascorbic acid, carotenoids and tocopherol, leads to the development of oncological diseases and cardiovascular pathologies.
Those who are concerned about the question of which vitamins are of greatest value to the elderly should know that ascorbic acid is primarily related to them. It provides protection to the lungs, strengthens the immune system, normalizes metabolism. Deficiency of “ascorbic acid” is compensated by citrus, sweet pepper, spinach.
Vitamin B is necessary for the smooth functioning of the stomach, and carotene improves the functioning of the organs of vision.
Vitamin B deficiency
People of the age category “60+” often suffer from diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. This is because the body lacks vitamins B2, B6, B12, PP. The consequence of this is a slowdown in metabolic processes and a decrease in the activity of certain enzyme systems of the body. In older people, anemia develops due to a lack of folic acid.
Vitamin B2 deficiency worsens vision, the digestive system, unbalances the nervous system, and lowers immunity. Despite the fact that the need for the above substance in older people is much less than in young people, its digestibility over the years becomes so poor that the recommended amount of riboflavin (B2) should be increased. Its shortage can be compensated for by such foods as cheese, cottage cheese, veal, cocoa.
The absorption of vitamin B12 also decreases with age. To eliminate its deficiency, you should regularly eat greens, salads, veal, beef and pork liver, spinach, seafood.
Hydrochloric acid helps the best digestibility of cyancobolamine (B12), therefore, in addition to the above products, you also need to eat fruits and sour berries.
Vitamin A deficiency
If the body lacks vitamin A, then this contributes to the appearance of diseases of the duodenum, gastritis, weakening of the immune system. Retinol (vitamin A) contains a huge amount of such products: chicken eggs, carrots, spinach, pumpkin, veal liver.
Vitamin D deficiency
It should be noted that vitamin D is also very valuable for the elderly. Deficiency of the above component leads to poor absorption of calcium, which is so necessary for strengthening bones. In addition, the likelihood of developing atherosclerosis and the appearance of malignant neoplasms is increased. Vitamin D can be replenished through ultraviolet radiation, so older people need to stay in the sun at least half an hour a day in warm weather. However, it is not recommended to expose oneself too much time to UV rays. As for food, vitamin D is found in egg yolks and fish oil.
But the need for minerals decreases over the years. Moreover, some of them (calcium salts) are deposited in the joints and tissues. However, the content of magnesium, iodine, selenium, iron in the body must be controlled. Today, in any pharmacy, in order to avoid the problem of a deficiency of nutrients, you can choose the optimal complex of vitamins for the elderly. However, it is best to consult a doctor on this topic.
Vitamin Complexes
Currently, there is a whole arsenal of drugs on the market that can solve the problem of deficiency of cyancobolamine or retinol. It should be noted that vitamins for the elderly, reviews about which are mostly contradictory, also vary in degree of effectiveness. However, most of them are dispensed in a pharmacy without a doctor’s prescription. We list the most common.
The drug "Hexavit"
So, today many pharmaceutical manufacturers produce vitamins for the elderly. The names "Hexavit", "Gerovital", "Vitrum Century" are well known to Russian consumers.
The first of these multivitamin complexes contains six vitamins that are vital for people aged 60 years - A, B, B2, B6, C, PP. The drug "Hexavit" is recommended as one of the measures to combat vitamin deficiency.
Customer reviews contain information that this is an effective tool when it comes to the problem of a lack of nutrients. Consumers also note its effectiveness in the fight against ophthalmic ailments.
Means "Undevit"
Of course, the young generation, which cares about the health of their loved ones, needs to regularly buy vitamins for the elderly. The names "Undevit", "Supradin", "Gerimax" should clearly be deposited in their memory. "Undevit" - a drug that contains eleven important vitamins (B1, B12, E, P, folic, pantothenic acid , etc.). And one dragee is a daily requirement of an organism for useful substances. The Undevit complex is also effective in the fight against a disease such as vitamin deficiency.
Reviews about this drug are mostly positive. Many buyers appreciate it because it does not cause allergic reactions and significantly increases the body's resistance to colds. In addition, consumers are attracted by the inexpensive price of the drug - only 45 rubles per package.
Vitrum Centuri
Vitamins Vitrum for the elderly is a good choice. First of all, they help strengthen the immune system, as well as increase mental and physical performance. In addition, this drug significantly reduces the likelihood of developing cancer and cardiovascular pathologies. Also, Vitrum Centuria slows down the aging process of cells. However, this is far from all of its positive properties. It is prescribed as a drug to compensate for the lack of minerals, as well as a prophylactic for hypovitaminosis.
The bulk of customer reviews about Vitrum Centuri is positive. After taking the drug, the elderly feel better, cheerfulness appears. However, some are not satisfied with the price (500 rubles per package) and the possibility of allergic reactions.